LegionOfShroom said:

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#1 bottom view with backlighting


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Infinite Monkeys said:

The brown growth is similar to the type of growth that is commonly seen on stone producers plates.

What is your process for creating GSW agar?

To the best of my knowledge, you need to cook grain water agar for longer than LMEA.
You'll want to use grain soak water within ~24 hours.

Munchauzen, I think, stores his GSW as ice cubes.

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BlueAndOrange said:

For the parafilm users, what are you doing to cut it? Are the dispensers any good? They seem super expensive and have no reviews, or the cheap ones have terrible reviews. I love parafilm, but I’d love it more if it were easier to cut a 1”x4” piece off the roll.

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This is the best way to cut your parafilm in order to avoid microtears. Other lengths/widths are highly prone to microtears in your film and thus a vector for contamination.
4 squares long and half a square wide allows you to wrap around the plate 3/4 times.

And this paper cutter is so convenient because I can cut hundreds of pieces of parafilm in such a short amount of time just by stacking sheets and cutting through multiple at once.

LegionOfShroom said:

Perhaps I should have made my own post about this, if this wasn’t appropriate for this thread then please accept my apology everybody

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Seamonkey84 said:

I’m wondering if it’s metabolites from it changing food source, different genes and enzymes need to be used to break down different food types.

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Guerrilla said:

BlueAndOrange said:

For the parafilm users, what are you doing to cut it? Are the dispensers any good? They seem super expensive and have no reviews, or the cheap ones have terrible reviews. I love parafilm, but I’d love it more if it were easier to cut a 1”x4” piece off the roll.

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This is the best way to cut your parafilm in order to avoid microtears. Other lengths/widths are highly prone to microtears in your film and thus a vector for contamination.
4 squares long and half a square wide allows you to wrap around the plate 3/4 times.

And this paper cutter is so convenient because I can cut hundreds of pieces of parafilm in such a short amount of time just by stacking sheets and cutting through multiple at once.

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Those strips are huge



There's how big i cut mine for wrapping plates.

Nichrome said:

I like to fold parafilm in half before wrapping dishes. Double bag it.

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LotKid said:

There's how big i cut mine for wrapping plates.

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Honestly I tried both ways forever. Would always end up with micro tears in my plates.

A hugely successful commercial grower had the same issue as me (it's very common apparently) and recommended the cut in my pic. Completely solved the issue and I prefer adding to and removing it from plates this way.

#1 top view 

#1 top view with backlighting
 
#1 bottom view with backlighting


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nektar61 said:

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm wondering if it could be metabolites. I usually see those on grain or tubs, and they can be caused by any stress to the growth, bacteria, mold, too much water, too little water, too much air, too little air,  etc. Maybe too little nutrients.

I haven't seen metabolites on agar. But there's always something new with so many people doing this hobby.

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Seamonkey84 said:

I’m wondering if it’s metabolites from it changing food source, different genes and enzymes need to be used to break down different food types.

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nektar61 said:

How long did you PC the agar mix? If more than about 30 min, it could be caramelization. Not dangerous, but cut down to about 25 min next time (unless you're way above sea level).

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Here’s a picture of a dish from the same batch that was never inoculated with anything, stored at room temp for about 2 weeks. I’ve heard about carmelization but never seen it so I’m not sure what it looks like. This is unfiltered grain water so there is some sediment. I don’t see any contamination growing.

 

Guerrilla said:

This is the best way to cut your parafilm in order to avoid microtears. Other lengths/widths are highly prone to microtears in your film and thus a vector for contamination.
4 squares long and half a square wide allows you to wrap around the plate 3/4 times.

And this paper cutter is so convenient because I can cut hundreds of pieces of parafilm in such a short amount of time just by stacking sheets and cutting through multiple at once.

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